July 14-19, 2019 the Crazy Mountain Camp took place in an amazing location high in the mountains in eastern Switzerland. Mountain hiking, crazy group games, swimming in wild mountain lakes, simplicity...
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Far away from stress and noise, high on the mountain: Enjoy simplicity! It liberates the mind.
This event has taken place in July 2019 and is history. So you can not sign up for this event anymore.
Activities
We'll have a mountain hut just for our group at an altitude of 2.200m and far away from "civilisation". In the daytime we will be hiking in the overwhelming mountain landscapes with picnics and swimming in wild mountain lakes. In the evening we will organize crazy group games and we'll cook and eat together. The Crazy Mountain Camp will be an intense and unique experience that will take you up in the sky and will bring you back on your feet!
Location
We will be in a simple mountain hut in the middle of beautiful nature: mountains with peaks of up to 2.900 meters above sea level, valleys, streams, fields and forests. In our proximity there are only some summer farms here and there where the farmers make cheese from the milk of the cows that stay on the high fields during summer (more about seasonal migration in the Alps here). We are in the south east of Switzerland, in the most natural province of the country (Grisons/Graubünden).
From our hut, it is around 2,5 hour walking to get to the nearest village (altitude difference: 700m). In that village there is a bus stop and a railway station. The hut can be reached by mountain bike as well.
Accommodation
The mountain hut is very simple and with a very natural feel. The beds are bunk beds a group room. There is an open kitchen with a wood stove. The toilet is a simple outhouse. Please do not expect luxury things like comfort, personal privacy or mobile network coverage. No smoking in the house. In and around the house clothing is optional (faq)
Mountain hiking
The days in the Crazy Mountain Camp will be dedicated to mountain hiking. Not mountaineering; no ropes, crampons or helmets. More info on the trail classifications (T1 etc.) here. Please do read!
There is a hiking program set up but it is not an obligation to participate; if you are a seasoned mountaineer you might prefer to go rock climbing by yourself instead of hiking with our group. And also if you want to spend your days relaxedly searching for berries or spotting birds, feel free to do so. Basically everybody is expected to participate in the group life at the end of the day and in the evening (faq).
The program might look something like this:
First day We’ll all meet in the afternoon at the bus stop in the village. Walking up to the hut (3 hours, T2). Luggage will be brought by tractor to the hut.
Second day As a warming up we will make a hike (T3) that is not very long and not very technical - but will take us to a 2.750m high peak. Picnic and sunbath on the summit before we go back to the hut.
Third day A long hike, 10 to 12 hours long including breaks, T3 and T4. We will leave a bit earlier in the morning. We will traverse 4 passes with lots of ascents and descents, in absolute solitude through untouched valleys. Our short swim in a wild mountain lake will be refreshing!
Fourth day A not so long hike (T3) will bring us to the ruins of an alpine underground ore quarry from past centuries. a not-so intense day in other words when it comes to hiking.
Fifth day Another long hike, 8 to 9 hours, T3, that will bring us to another dip in the lake and then we'll ascent another 2.750m high peak before hiking back to the hut.
Sixth day Vacate the hut in the morning and descent back into civilisation. After this hike: the farewell group hug in the village!
Weather conditions in the mountains can change fast and often. For this reason, the program can be changed according to what is safe and enjoyable. At this altitude it can be that we'll hike in full sunshine with 27 degrees air temperature - and it can be that we wake up with fresh snow around our hut!
One thing about hiking in groups. Keep in mind that a 'stronger' person can adapt to a 'slower' person, but a 'slower' person can not adapt to a 'stronger' person. So when we hike in a group, we'll set the capabilities of the 'slower' group members as standard while the 'stronger' people will have the satisfaction of applying their social skills by adapting to the group :-)
Wildlife
As we are in a remote, non-touristic location, there is a chance that we will be able to spot some interesting wildlife. Marmots, eagles and ibexes are the most probable; the chances of seeing wolves or a bear are, in all honesty, very small - even though they do live in our valley.
Preparation
Although the Crazy Mountain Camp is intended to be a relaxed, non-competitive event, mountain hiking is a sports activity that demands some extra attention for two reasons: altitude and safety. You don't really need to have experience in mountain hiking, but you will need a fair condition, good mountain hiking shoes, a daypack, a water bottle, rain protection and something warmer also. A pair of hiking poles is helpful but not a necessity. If you suffer from vertigo or acrophobia, most of our hiking program will not make you feel happy.
What if I love mountains but don't want to join that 'serious' hiking?
I really like the whole idea and I would really like to join, but I'm really not into all this T3 and T4 hiking. Are there options for me?
Yes there are. You can make easy hikes for example around the hut. For these kind of hikes you don't even need mountain hiking shoes; good walking shoes will do the job, but forget about flip flops, heels and mocassins. If you're into nature photography or drawing landscapes, you will find a multitude of subjects within 500 meters from the hut...
Most probably you will not be the only one that will not join the bigger hikes.
Share!
There is space and time for workshop-like activities, so if you would like to share some of your knowledge or skills, feel free! Maybe you want to teach us some capoeira, do a photoshoot or make us sing the traditionals of your native culture? Just some ideas... it really can be anything. And if you don't have any such thing to share, that's fine as well!
Cooking will be done by the group and for the group; no à la carte service :) Because we are high in the mountains, our resources are limited and we'll all have to be flexible. If you are very precise/specific with your food, then this is not the right experience for you, sorry. Read Details About Diets And Restrictions
The provided food is vegan. Read Food Details
The provided drinks are non-alcoholic. Read Alcohol Details
The deal
Your participation in the cost for these 5 days and nights is EUR 295 per person for accommodation and food that we will cook together. See details below.
or EUR 250 if you are female and you choose to use the Gender Pay Gap Compensation (faq)
That is cheap! However, don't come if you are only interested in an affordable holiday. The Crazy Mountain Camp is all about the group, spending fun evenings together, doing crazy games, and enjoying the mountains together!
What is included/provided and what is not?
+ Accommodation
+ Breakfast
+ Simple lunch (sandwiches, leftovers of yesterdays dinner)
+ Dinner (we will cook together)
+ Tea, water, juice
- Snacks, fruit, energy bars, energy drinks, soft drinks
- Sleeping bags
- Towels
+ Unforgettable fun
Couples
If you are a couple, please understand that in the Crazy Mountain Camp you can not behave like a couple. In general the beds are allocated through a lottery (faq) and we're all sleeping in one big space. And you are expected to participate in all activities and group life as individuals and not as a couple. Yes you will be hugging – in the numerous group hugs! So be prepared to sit each at opposite sides of the table during dinner, and accept that someone other than yourself might be giving your partner a massage of the sore muscles.
How to get there
We will be in Grisons in the south east of Switzerland. Distance from Zürich airport 170km, Milano 230 km, Basel/Mulhouse airport at 260. Can be reached by train.
From The Netherlands/Belgium/Luxemburg there might be a ride share available, approx. EUR 45 one-way per person (faq)Most probably, as time passes by, ride shares from/to other directions will be added.
Switzerland is member of the Schengen agreement. If you can travel in any other Schengen country, you can travel in Switzerland.
Interested?
If you want to participate in this event, then you’re out of luck... It is a past event! Please check out the other upcoming Crazy Camps or sign up for the newsletter and I’ll keep you updated about new Crazy Camps.
